Chimette (Met) is a wonderful seven year old Border Collie cross who was adopted in 1997 from the CARE Rescue in San Jose, to be trained as an assistance dog. He was just six months old when I fell in love with his beautiful amber eyes. I later learned that his past involved vaccinosis and severe abuse which eventually led to him literally being thrown away. The two of us bonded instantaneously and remain inseparable- giving to the other that which is needed.

At eight months of age, Met instinctively alerted me to a malfunctioning flasher light (used as a signal for the door bell). It was smoking because it did not turn off as it was supposed to and I was taking a nap. He refused to let me continue resting- urgently pawing at me. I was so grateful when I discovered that he probably saved my life. This was just the beginning of many instinctual things to come. By spring of 1998, he was mitigating many disability needs- retrieving dropped items, alerting me to the door, the phone, and people calling my name. At this point he had earned full society access.

Our life together dramatically changed on October 15, 1998 when I witnessed Met having a seizure. This initial seizure was followed the next week by two more seizures of greater intensity and duration. By this time I knew it was no longer a fluke-thing. I also recognized his pre and post-ictal behavior as symptoms that he came to me with at adoption, and again occurring following every vaccination he received since. It is very likely that mild seizure activity had been taking place since at least the age of six months brought on by vaccinosis. I later learned that he had accidentally been double vaccinated as a puppy with the rescue. Because of this connection, he no longer receives vaccinations.

So we began our quest to conquer Canine Epilepsy--- a diagnosis I knew so little about (then)... yet knew I had to find answers if there was any hope at all of continuing our working partnership. To say I was petrified was an understatement. I had no idea what lay ahead for me in terms of the greater mobility I had achieved with Met's help. Thankfully I had very supportive vets who encouraged me. I was pretty computer literate and started searching the web for any information I could find on Canine Epilepsy. I fell upon the Epilepsy lists where I gained immediate support and had some people who literally took us under their wing and provided me with information that enabled me to gain very good control of Met's seizures. A combination of meds (Pb, KBr and now Soloxine) and alternative treatments (specifically Gold Bead implants) helped us to gain long seizure free records (longest being 15 months) enabling us to continue our working partnership.

Since Met's diagnosis, his skills have increased enormously. We began using clicker training which made a great impact on the speed at which he learned new skills. He participated in agility and received his Canine Good Citizen. He now opens and closes doors (even the refrigerator), helps me undress at night when my body is too stiff and spastic, puts his toys in the toy box and the dirty clothes in the hamper. He even began alerting me to low blood sugars at night. My vision has also become greatly impaired. At first I didn’t realize what was going on, until Met instinctively braced all four legs refusing to budge an inch when I almost went off the side of a curb instead of down the curb cut right in the middle of a busy city sidewalk. What a sight that must have been to people around us! With this skill fine tuned he now guides me up and down curb cuts, through doors, and around obstacles that I might not see with a grace and ease that is undescribable. Having Met's assistance has enabled me to remain independent of a human aid to help me with my daily living needs… and to think I thought he would have to be retired just six months after achieving society access. This truly remains a remarkable partnership and a testament that epilepsy doesn't have to stop our dogs from living normal productive lives.
 
 

Instinct
by

Karyn E. LaGrange

At six months
your inbred herding capability
was so unique
it appeared
you were creating new steps
to the break-dance
at every driveway or intersection.
Soon you began to notice
many sounds had no affect upon me.
Before I realized it
you had become my personal alerting system
replacing my deafness
with your acutely-sensitive hearing.
As my eyes began failing
you began halting before uneven surfaces--
weaving me around the obstacles
that had begun to create collision courses
when I was without you.
Leaving alone each morning
I was met with your pawing at
your bright orange harness and cape
where they hang upon their hook.
Upon my return
you'd snuffle your nose and muzzle
up my sleeves and pants legs
as if you were inspecting me
for any new-found injury.
Today I stroll society
with your eyes and ears.

copyright 1998
1999- Best Poem of the Year
IAADP's Writing Competition.
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A Picture of Epilepsy
...dedicated to Chimette
Like a frisky pup
you clench the blue
knotted web cord
tightly
fastened around
the fridge door handle
between your teeth-
Bracing your hind legs
you thrust the door wide
anticipating the morsel
waiting behind the door
Once again
the task incomplete--
Front legs stiffening like stilts
as you're then thrust
up and down like a jack rabbit
before
being catapulted to the ground
Head thrust back
thrashing
saliva frothing like bubbles
rushing from your mouth
joining the spilled urine--
eyes roll side to side
The paddling action--
no stranger to your limbs
You struggle to your feet
like a newly birthed calf
nervous and agitated
you clumsily resume the task

Copyright 2000